Master’s Degree

MA in Art Business (Online)

Date: Spring & Fall 2026
Duration: 1+ Year
Location: Online
Program: Master’s Degree
Mode of Learning: Online
Language: English
Topic: Art Business

Transform your passion for art into professional expertise with the Online MA in Art Business, a flexible program that equips you to navigate, master, and thrive in the global art market.

The Online MA in Art Business is the fully online counterpart to the Institute’s flagship MA in Art Business, with all academic content delivered remotely. The curriculum is aligned with the in-person MA offered at Sotheby’s Institute of Art-New York and is accredited by NASAD (the National Association of Schools of Art and Design).

Select adaptations to the curriculum have been implemented to reflect best practices in online pedagogy and to accommodate the needs of both US and international students for whom an 18- to 24-month online format is well suited to ongoing professional and personal commitments.

Combining academic rigor with cutting-edge virtual learning, the program is structured to reflect the dynamic nature of the global art market itself, equipping students to stay at the forefront of emerging trends and evolving industry practices.

Highlights

Build a Portfolio

Signature student projects include designing themed auction sales catalogues, writing condition reports, curating art exhibitions, valuation problem-solving, contract negotiating preparation, and entrepreneurial project planning.

Join a Growing Professional Community

Foster networking opportunities and career growth by connecting with an extensive network of art professionals, offering virtual access to career fairs and internships.

Extensive Electronic Resources

In addition to important academic resources such as JSTOR and the ProQuest suite of databases, students have access to Lexis/Nexus and important professional art market resources such as Artnet and ArtPrice plus hundreds of thousands of ebooks.

Next Steps

Faculty

Adjunct Faculty, MA in Art Business, Online

Lawrence S. Motz is an adjunct faculty member at Sotheby's Institute New York. Upon graduation from business school, Motz became an institutional emerging markets bond trader and later an investment banker with Prudential Securities, PaineWebber (UBS), and Kaufman Brothers, a boutique investment bank specializing in telecommunications. During that time, he also co-founded and served as CFO of eNet China, an early online Internet retailer headquartered in Beijing, China.

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Faculty, MA in Art Business, New York and Online

Judith Prowda has been a member of the Sotheby’s institute of Art Masters of Art Business Faculty since 2007. She is an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator focused on art law, copyright, entertainment and commercial law. She is a founding member of Stropheus Art Law, a collective of art law and business specialists who offer unbundled services to the art community.

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Adjunct Faculty, MA in Art Business, New York and Online Courses

Betsy Thomas is the founder and director of Thomas Art Advisory LLC, an art advisory and appraisal firm based in New York. She works closely with private collectors and institutions advising them on how to build high-quality collections as well as managing sales of estates, private and corporate collections as well as helping them navigate the charitable donation landscape.

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Adjunct Faculty, MA in Art Business, New York and Online Courses

Maria brings over 25 years of international experience in the art world, first at museums – National Museum of Catalan Art, MNAC, in Barcelona and at the Louvre in Paris- then at Sotheby’s Auction House in London. During her time at Sotheby’s, she gained experience in all aspects of the auction world with a focus on business and client development. She has participated in numerous auctions and worked closely with all Sotheby’s European offices.

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Director, New York & Online

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Ann-Marie Richard is a fine art asset and design specialist, art historian, curator, author and advisor. Prior to her full-time appointment as Program Director, she was Executive Vice President at the art advisory firm Gurr Johns. She has lectured extensively on the topics of retrospective and emerging art markets, connoisseurship, collecting, conservation, provenance, and the related subtleties of appraising fine and decorative arts and design. Learn more...

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Featured

Field Study

In consideration of flexibility, the MA Art Business (Online) degree offers self-guided field studies and/or professional art practices supervised by the Institute’s faculty.

“...study trips abroad are a great way to cement these learnings on the ground, and experience art in the flesh, something paramount to a complete understanding of both contemporary art and the art market.” — Alexis Sarfati ’20

Details

Academic Structure

The MA Art Business (Online) program is designed for students to have the flexibility to complete the program at their own pace, in three, four, or five semesters.

Students begin their classes in the fall, take a minimum of two classes per semester and follow the sequence of classes and subject areas covered in the in-person program.

The weekly instruction per course includes two pre-recorded video lectures for students to view on their own schedule, as well as one live virtual class held at a scheduled time.

Students are supported throughout by extensive library resources, faculty advisors, and opportunities for peer collaboration.

This approach allows working professionals and students from all backgrounds to complete their MA in Art Business affordably and with maximum flexibility while still engaging deeply with faculty and peers.

View required courses and electives in our online Master’s Catalog here.

Tuition and Fees

Spring 2026

A non-refundable deposit of $1,500 is required to secure your place on all programs. The deposit will be applied to Semester 1 tuition.

Per Credit Tuition	Tuition for 36 credits*
$1,411	$50,796

*Please note this is tuition only. The total MA degree consists of 36 credit hours.

*The number of credits and total tuition each semester may vary depending on your selected track

Materials Fee: $824

Fall 2026 – Tuition and Fees TBA.

A non-refundable deposit of $1,500 is required to secure your place on all programs. The deposit will be applied to Semester 1 tuition.

For more information on tuition and program fees, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

From application information to course credits, find answers on our FAQ page. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, contact an Admissions counselor.

Student Policies

Explore our library of academic and campus policies here. All students who enroll for graduate study must agree to the Terms and Conditions upon accepting their offer of admittance.

The MA Art Business (Online) degree is awarded by Sotheby’s Institute of Art-New York. Sotheby’s Institute of Art-New York holds degree-granting authority from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Enterprise Studio

The Enterprise Studio was created as an extra-curricular program for Master’s students to receive training and support for new business ventures, culminating in a start-up pitch competition, the Gavel. Through close access to mentors, students have the chance to shape their plans from ideation to execution with the winning Gavel team receiving significant seed funding for their future business.

Accreditation

Sotheby’s Institute of Art-NY holds permanent degree-granting authority from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

5 Reasons to Study a Master’s Online

In today's fast-paced world, the pursuit of higher education has become more accessible and flexible than ever. With online master's degree programs at the forefront of this educational transformation, here are the advantages that make these programs a highly desirable choice for students around the globe.

Master’s Degree